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Syracuse Crunch defense thins as blueliner Nikita Nesterov is doubtful for this weekend

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Syracuse Crunch rookie defenseman Nikita Nesterov was expected to return from an upper body injury and practice Wednesday but instead has been declared doubtful for this weekend.
(Scott Schild | SSchild@syracuse.com)

Syracuse Crunch defenseman Nikita Nesterov incurred an upper body injury when he took a blow to the shoulder/head area in a game against Norfolk on Saturday.

As a precaution, the promising rookie was held out of practice on Tuesday. But he sat and watched the action from the stands, and after the regular workout ended he ambled down to the door leading out to the ice.

Nesterov got a spare puck, dropped it in front of him and began stickhandling while standing in the open doorway. Clearly, he was a player very anxious to return to the game.

Initially, the thought was that Nesterov might be able to lace up the skates again Wednesday. But that didn't happen, and the updated diagnosis from Syracuse coach Rob Zettler is Nesterov is doubtful for the Syracuse's two games this weekend.

"He's just not coming along like we thought he would,'' Zettler said.

With Dimitry Korobov on recall to Tampa Bay, the Crunch has the minimum of six healthy defensemen right now. The group includes rookie Drew Olson, who played the position at Minnesota-Duluth but was switched to forward with the Crunch this season.

Zettler said the manpower issue will be addressed soon, although he didn't have specifics of a move on Wednesday. Lightning assistant GM Julien BriseBois said his team will assess the status of injured defenseman Sami Salo on Thursday morning and then decide what moves to make from there.

Olson practiced back on the blueline Tuesday and Wednesday and hopes for a quick re-adjustment if needed there for this weekend's contests.

"Being focused on playing forward the entire year, you forget the things you learn playing defense,'' Olson said. "A few times today in practice, I was kind of running around.

"It is a big difference jumping up from college to the pro level, especially at defense. It's more or less calming down, sticking to what you know best. Taking more reps at defense puts you in that mindset.''